Combined clutch and brake



March 2, 1948. w. F. LONGFIELD 2,436,968

COMBINED CLUTCH AND BRAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Filed' July s1, 1945 March z, 194s. w. F. LONGFIELD 2,436,968 4 COMBINED CLUTCH AND BRAKE Filed` Jul-y 3l, 1,945 'Sheets-Sheet 2 2 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1948 William F. Longiield, Cleveland, h10, assigner to The Cleveland Punch. & Shear Works Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 31, 1945, Serial No.` 607,990

and brakes of the friction disc type such as are extensively used to 'control the operation of various different types of machine tools and are especially adapted for use on large sheet metal vvorl .y

ing presses.

The invention comprises generally a friction disc clutch thru which a constantly rotating'fiy- Wheel rotatably mounted on a drive shaftis `connected to and disconnected from said shaft ancl-I a friction disc brake thru which the rotation of the drive shaft is stopped and held-when the clutch is disengaged. The clutch and brake-are mounted adjacenteach other andare interconnected in such a mannerthat the brake'is ref;l

leased as the clutch is engaged and applied -as the clutch is disengaged. `Fluid pressure means are provided for engaging the clutch vand releasing the brake and spring means are provided for disengaging the lclutch and applying the'brakeh.

when the fluid pressure means isrendered' inoperative. i

Broadly, devices of this character are old in the art. My invention as shown and described herein ilates to the specic construction of such a de- The principal object of the invention istoy provide a device of this characteiwhich is simple and compact; whichA is easy to manufacture and assemble and which will 'give long uninterrupted Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on-the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and y Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. I ,i

Referring to the drawings by reference characters the,y numeral I indicates a drive shaft,v

which is rotatably supported by roller bearings- 2 and 3 mounted in brackets 4 and 5 Whichvare bolted tol suitable supports 6 and 1 of, a metal working press.

A flywheel 8 is rotatably vsupported on the shaft I adjacent the support 3 and bracket 4 by ball bearings 9. A plate I0 having a. hub II and an annular friction surface I2 is mounted on the shaft l to the left of and in close proximityto This invention relates to combined clutchesn vs claims. (ci. 'isz-'18) plate I0 upon the shaft I is mounted a piston as..

sembly generally indicated by the numeral I 3, and

next to the piston assembly I3 upon the shaft I is mounted a second plate I4. The plate I4 has a hub I5. and an annular friction surface I6 facing the friction surface I2 of the plate I0. The plates I0 and I4 and the piston assembly I3 are all bolted together by bolts I1 so as to form in effect a unitaryv structure which is keyed to v the shaft I by keys I8 so as to always rotate therewith. The shaft I and the various parts mounted thereon are all held in their proper positions with respect to each otherand. the brackets 4 and 5 by suitable .shoulders I9 formed on the shaft I, spacer sleeves 2,0 interposed between the various members as shown, and by the nut 2|. Suitable grease retainers are provided for thevbearings. 2, 3 and 9. Y

The bracket 5 has an annulus 22 rigidly secured thereto, or. cast integrally therewith as Vshownin Fig. 1. y'llhe inner face of the annulus 22 has a circular groove 23 formed thereinvnear the. periphery thereof. A plurality of spaced blocks 24, six being shown in Fig. 3, are -inserted intothe groove 23 and are bolted to the annulus 22 by bolts 25. The blocks 24 are of such a size that they lit snugly into the groove 23 and are prevented from` turning on the bolts 25 by engagement with 4the side walls of the groove 23.

A circular groove 26similar to the groove 23 is formed in theinner face of the ywheel. 8.. A pluralityof blocks2'l, six being shown, in Fig."2, areinserted in the groove 21 and are rigidly secured to the flywheel by bolts 28. The blocks 21, which are similar to the blocks 24, fit snugly in the groove v26 and are prevented from turning uponthe bolts 28 byengagement with the side walls of the groove 26.

The piston assembly I3 comprises a piston 29 and a hub 30 whilchprojects from the head of the piston towards and into engagement with the hub II of the plate III., ,'.Ihchub 30' has a smooth cyanche@ out-er, survfaceupon which is steamy mounted the 'headg3l of, a cylinder 32 which is slidablymounted'upon the piston 29. The cylinder head 3| is Abolted to the cylinder 32 by bolts 33. Rings 34,"` which are mounted in suitable grooves in the' piston 29 and hub 30, prevent the escape of fluid from withinthe cylinder 32. j

A plate 35 having asmothfriction surface 36 is rigidly connectedtothe cylinder 32 by spacers y which are cast integrally with the cylinder 32 and plate 35. "The plate- '35 has a central bore therethru which is internally toothed as indithe flywheel 8 as. viewed 4I rri'ig. 2.y Next to'thefgnlated at 3'8. The-tjeth38slidably engage teeth 3 39 cut in the periphery of an annular extension 40 of the hub I5. A plate 4I having a smooth friction surface 42 is cast integrally with the cylinder head 3 I.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the plates I0, I4, 35 and 4I, the piston assembly I3, the cylinder 32 and the cylinder head 3I will all rotate I.in union with yreach other andi-the shaft I; andthat'thecyliirder 32,'cylirrder'ihead3l and the plates 35 and 4I may move longitudinally between the plates I and I4. Also it will VJbe seen that if the cylinder 32 andzzcylinderihead -31I are rotated, the shaft I will be rotated and conversely if the cylinder 'and cylinder head are constrained from rotating *the shaft "I n'will like'- wise be constrained.

A brake ring 43 is disposednbetween tlreplates I4 and 35. This ring which is made up of two semi-circular sections is slidably mounted-upon the blocks 24 and hase. suitable friction material t4 appliedr'to itsltwoffaces.

A clutch ring 545, Hsimilarlto vthedriralne :ring 43, is disposed b'etwe'en'fthe plates AfIll and 41. "This -clutch ring lwhich fis `inside up fof two fsemi-'circular sections fastened ftogetherby'blocks '46- and bolts 41 is -`sli'd'abl-y i'nbunteupon the blockslZ'l "so that 4it will rotate fwith fthe 'flywheel 8. 'If desired, suitablefri'ction material-48 lnaybe Lapplied ltothe 'faces of Mering-45.

The `cylinder"fhead 3| yhas 'ii-plurality loiycup shaped `recesses 49 yfformed '3"therein. ie compression` springlll is seatedinaeachpf the recesses 49. These springs ll) are @interposed between :the cylinder `head 31 and y"the plate fl), l"one bend -of :each of Athe 'springsbearln'g tagainst the cylinder "head and `lthe vother ien'd ``olf "the *spring 'bearing against the `plate lll, so *that they "normally bias the longitudinally slidableparts to the position shown in Fig. l, 'to apply the `'brake 'and `release Vthe clutch. In this ,positionthebrale ring 43 is tightlyclalnped between 'the plates 'irland T35, and the clutch .ring 45 "hangs loosely 'between the plates Hl 'and 'K4 I Thebrake lring 14.3, fas lpreviously described, -'is nonrotatably 'connected :to the annulus 22 "by means of :the :blocks 24 and bolts 25. Henc'e'it ,followsthat when "the 'plate I4, whichi's rigidlyvconnected to Lth'eiirive shaft I, iskept from rotatin'g'by being' clamped against the non-rotatable ring 43,1the drive shaft -vI and all theparts operatively connected 'thereto will .also Vbe held stationary.

To release gthe Ybrake and engage .the .clutch iluid .under pressureis forcedinto the cylinder ,32 .between the ,pistonheadli and the cylinder head 3|. This will Arnove 'thec'yliri'derl the cylinder head.3I,.and.the`plates and lII connected to the cylinder and cylinder headLto theright, as the parts are :viewed in Fig. .1, (which compresses .thesprings r5I), Idisengages the plates lI4 and 35 .andthe brakering 4.3,.and olampsthe clutch ring tightly .between the ,plates 'IIJ .and 41. "The ysdrive shaft nI .and .all .the ,parts :operatively con- .:nected thereto ,will then .be .drivenby the .constantly rotating .flywheel thru 'the `.clutch ring .4,5 which ismountedt'o rotate withtlicnfywheel. Fluid, air orol `under .pressure is .admitted to .thecylinder32from any-suitable source ofsupply, not shown, ,thru Apipe 5I, Y,cou'pli'rig 1.52, 'longitudinal bore 5,3 .in the .Shaft I, transverse hores '54 ,in `the shaft .I .and connection .between the bores 54 and the cylinder. y

The admission of the fluid to `thecylinder 32 to .release the brakeandengage the .clutch .may be controlled .either manually YVor automatically as desired. The general practice today is to control the now of this iiuid by means of an electrically operated 3-way valve. A manually operated switch when closed causes the 3-way valve to move to a position to admit fluid to the cylinder and an automatically operated switch which is closed at a predetermined time by a movable part of the machine to which the clutch and brake is applied causes the 3`way valve to move to a lposition to exhaust the "fluid from the cylinder.

The springs 50 will then force the cylinder 32,

cylinder head 3| and the plates 35 and 4I to the positionshown in Fig. 1, disengaging the clutch and applying the brake.

'Inoperationtheflywheel 8 is constantly driven 'from fany suitable source oi' power thru a belt y56, andthe press or other mechanism to which `the,clutchandbralre may be applied is operated by the shaft I thru a pinion gear 51 secured to 'thefshaft I and a gear train generally indicated by the numeral 58.

.Frorn'the foregoingfit'will be-apparent to those iskilled in `this art that I have provided a very simple, compact, and eiiicient combined clutch :and brake which will accomplish the objects of the invention.

It is to be understood that I am not limited to 'th'espe'ciiic Yembodiment 'oi' my invention shown Fand `described hereinas various 4changes may be made thereto 'whichzare within the scope of the fappended claims.

'40 Aother'end of said hub, apiston formed integrally with 4said hub vln'teiin'eclaite said clutch plate and said brake plate, aicylinder slidably but non- `rotatably mounted upon said piston, a clutch clamping vplaterigidly secured to one end of said cylinder, a brake clamping plate rigidly secured to the other end oi said cylinder, a clutch ring 'disposed between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate and connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, Va brake ring disposed between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, 'and non-rotatably secured to said stationary support, spring means operative 'to clamp said brake ring between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and uid pressure means operative to clamp said clutch ring between 'said clutch 'plate and said clutch clamping plate.

2. In a device ofthe character described, the combination vof a pair of spaced xed brackets, a shaft rotatably supported by said brackets, a flywheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft adjacent one o'f said brackets, an annular ange .rigidly secured to the other of said brackets, a fhub rigidly secured to said shaft between said flywheel and said ilange, a clutch plate formed .integrally with one end of 'said hub, a brake plate formed integrally with the other end of 4said hub, a piston 'formed integrally with said hub intermediate said clutch plate and said brake plate, a cylinder Aslidably but non-rotatably mounted upon said piston, aclutch clamping -plate rigidly secured to one end of said cylinder, a. brake clamping plate rigidly secured to the other end of said cylinder, a clutch ring disposed between ysaid clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate and connected to said ywheel for rotation therewith, a brake ring disposed between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and non-rotatably secured to said annular flange, spring means operative to clamp said brake ring between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and fluid pressure means operative to clamp said clutch ring between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a rotatably supported shaft, a flywheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft, sta tionary support spaced from said flywheel, a hub rigidly secured to said shaft between said ilywheel and said stationary support, a clutch plate formed integrally with one end of said hub, a brake plate formed integrally with the other` end of said hub, teeth on said hub adjacent said brake plate, a piston formed integrally with said hub intermediate said clutch plate and said brake plate, a cylinder slidably mounted on said piston, a clutch clamping plate rigidly secured to one end of said cylinder, a ring shaped brake clamping plate rigidly secured to the other end of said cylinder. teeth formed in the inner peripheral edge of said ring shape brake clamping plate, said teeth meshing with the said teeth on said hub, a clutch ring disposed between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate and connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a brake ring disposed between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate and nonrotatably secured to said stationary support, spring means operative to clamp said brake ring between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and fluid pressure means operative to clamp said clutch ring between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a rotatably supported shaft, a flywheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft, stationary support spaced from said flywheel, a hub rigidly secured to said shaft between said flywheel and said stationary support, a clutch plate formed integrally with one end of said hub, a brake plate formed integrally with the other end of said hub, teeth on said hub adjacent said brake plate, a piston formed integrally with said hub intermediate said 'clutch plate and said brake plate, a cylinder slidably mounted on said piston, a cylinder head bolted to one end of said cylinder and slidably mounted on said hub between said piston and said clutch plate, a clutch clamping ring rigidly secured to said cylinder head, a ring shaped brake clamping plate rigidly secured to the other end of said cylinder, teeth formed in the inner peripheral edge of said ring shaped brake clamping plate, said teeth meshing with the said teeth on said hub, a clutch ring disposed between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate and connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a brake ring disposed between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate and non-rotatably secured to said stationary support, spring means disposed between said cylinder head and said clutch plate and operative to clamp said brake ring between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and iiuid pressure means operative to move said cylinder again-st the pressure of said spring means to clamp said clutch ring between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of spaced fixed brackets, a shaft rotatably supported by said brackets, a iiywheel rotatably mounted upon said shaft adjacent one of said brackets, an annular flange rigidly secured to the other of said brackets, a hub rigidly secured to said shaft between said flywheel and said flange, a clutch plate formed integrally with one end of said hub, a brake plate formed integrally with the other end of said hub, teeth on said hub adjacent said brake plate, a piston formed integrally with said hub intermediate said clutch plate and said brake plate, a cylinder slidably mounted on said piston, a cylinder head bolted to one end of said cylinder and slidably mounted on said hub between said piston and said clutch plate, a clutch clamping ring rigidly secured to said cylinder head, a ring shaped brake clamping plate rigidly secured to the other end of said cylinder, teeth formed in the inner peripheral edge of said ring shaped brake clamping plate, said teeth meshing with the said teeth on said hub, a clutch ring disposed between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate and connected to said flywheel for rotation therewith, a brake ring disposed between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate and non-rotatably secured to said annular liange, spring means disposed between said cylinder head and said clutch plate and operative to clamp said brake ring between said brake plate and said brake clamping plate, and fluid pressure means operative to move said cylinder against the pressure of said spring means to clamp said clutch ring between said clutch plate and said clutch clamping plate.

WILLIAM F. LONGFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,159,326 Harwood et al May 23, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,870 Australia June 21, 1941 

